The use of Wind tunnel experiments for wind loads on structures.

C.P.W. Geurts
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, Delft, The Netherlands
Introduction
Experiments have been essential in the development of current guidelines and design
procedures for wind loads on structures. Current design coefficients in codes and
guidelines are almost all based on wind tunnel experiments. Wind tunnel experiments
are also used as alternative for codes of practice in cases outside the scope of these
codes, or when it is assumed necessary to obtain the wind loading more precisely. The
choice whether or not to perform wind tunnel experiments can be based on reasons of
safety or economy. This lecture focuses on the application of the wind tunnel for wind
loading studies.
A brief history
The earliest attempts to model the effects of the wind on buildings experimentally
date back to the 18th century. Models were moved in the air to determine the drag.
Experim19ents where the models were fixed and a fluid was moved (e.g. water or air)
originated in the 19th century. Large progress was made by Irminger and coworkers in
the early decades of the 20th century. The fundamentals of our current techniques was
developed in Gttingen in Germany, in the 30s, mostly related to developments in
aerospace engineering. These experiments, and others done at that time, were
performed in flows with low turbulence, without boundary layers. The need to model
the atmospheric turbulence properly has lead to the design of so called Atmospheric
Boundary Layer Wind Tunnels. This was first recognized in the 1950s, This led to the
development of relatively long working sections in the wind tunnel. Since the 1960s,
experiments to obtain wind loads on buildings are performed in such facilities.
Whilst instrumentation, data acquisition and data handling techniques developed
drastically over the past decades, wind tunnels are still very much based on these
principles. Wind tunnels built in that period are still in use. The development of data
acquisition and computing abilities made it possible to handle large amount of data.
Modern wind tunnel experiments for the wind loading on buildings use statistical
analysis techniques of the measurements to obtain design loads.

Figure 1: Pictures of flow experiments by Irminger (around 1930)

Guidelines
A number of guidelines has been developed recently to help those involved with wind
tunnel experiments to carry out, analyse and apply wind tunnel data. The most
extensive guideline is published by ASCE. Others are those published by WTG (in
German) or the guideline of BLWTL. These guidelines however give scarce
information for the end users. Therefore, in the Netherlands, CUR Recommendation
103 (in Dutch) has been published.
In a wind tunnel, the wind, the building, its surroundings, and in particular cases its
behaviour are modeled on scale. It is possible to measure wind velocities, pressures,
forces, moments and accelerations. For wind loading studies, mostly data are
transferred into nondimensional coefficients, such as pressure coefficients. These
coefficients can be defined in various ways, using a range of reference wind speeds,
and defining different statistical properties.
Users of wind tunnel results, such as structural engineers, usually do not have the
knowledge to decide upon these aspects. They need guidance to understand the
results, and to properly evaluate the quality of the measurements.
Usually, wind tunnel research to determine the wind loading on buildings and
building parts is recommended when:
buildings have shapes that are significantly different from those given in
chapter 7 of EN 1991-1-4, or any other wind loading code. This may be
related to the shape of the plan, but also to the height orf the structure.
buildings are situated in a complex environment, causing interaction effects
(leading to reduced and or increasing wind loads) .This includes cases where a
planned building exists of more than one independent structure (e.g. two
towers on a joint lower base building).
Wind tunnel experiments are also used for:
Validation of other methods, e.g. Computational Wind Engineering
gathering of data to apply in the next generation of guidance and codification
documents.
Usually, wind tunnel experiments are not used for:
internal pressure coefficients,;
friction coefficients;
the effect of pressure equalisation,;
the dynamic forces on slender structures with limited stiffness, such as cables,
bridge decks, flexible roof coverings.
However, wind tunnel research may serve as basis for such estimations. In some
cases, full scale experiments or computational wind engineering may be preferred.
Guidelines on wind tunnel research should give information on how to prepare, to set
up, to carry out and to analyse wind tunnel research. In this text, a brief overview of
all these aspects is given. The reader is referred to the literature list for more detailed
information.
Wind tunnel technique
An atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel consists at least of the following
elements:
2

One or more ventilators to develop moving air.

Devices to straighten the flow coming from the ventilator before it enters the
test section. These devices usually contain a contraction, to accelerate the
flow, and one or more honeycombs and directional vanes to make the flow
low turbulent.
A working section which is usually adjustable. It contains the model of the
building under consideration, and specific features to generate the flow in the
atmospheric boundary layer. These features are, seen from upstream:
o A barrier, or step, at the entrance of the tunnel to generate large scale
turbulences
o An array of spires
o A large fetch of roughness elements to generate a boundary layer flow.
o A test section, with a turn table, on which the model is placed
An outlet of the flow

Depending on the type of wind tunnel, the flow is recirculated (closed section tunnel),
or connected to the outside world (inside or outside), for an open section tunnel. Open
section tunnels can have the fan places before or behind the test section.
Variations in wind tunnel technique may be adjustments to be made to the ceiling, the
positions of the roughness elements. At the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Lab in
London, Ontario, adjustable roughness elements have been installed. Some wind
tunnels have walls in the test sections which are partially open, to minimize blockage
effects.

Figure 2: Open section wind tunnel of the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany

Preparation of wind tunnel research

Before setting up a wind tunnel research, at least the following information needs to
be available:
Information of the vicinity:
a map of the direct surroundings, at least corresponding to the surroundings that are
modeled on the turn table, including orientation of the building and surroundings
(relative to the north);
heights of the surrounding buildings, modeled on the turn table;
special objects in the surrounding area, that may be of influence on the results;
information on the roughness to determine the upstream roughness in the wind tunnel;
information on the future building plans in the direct environment.

Information on the building under study:

views and sections of the building;
drawings of special features on the building;
roughness of the facades;
main structure axes and the torsion centre of the structure.
Applied technique for analysis of data
Data obtained in a wind tunnel may be analysed in different ways. These analysis
methods depend on the purpose of the study. The choice of these methods however,
influence also:
the way the wind climate is modelled in the wind tunnel;
the instrumentation and measurement technique;
Three methods which are frequently applied are the methods A, B and C described
below:
Method A: Measurement of mean values; quasi-steady approach
Method A requires per wind condition one time trace, with a length which is
sufficient to ensure that a longer time trace will not give another mean value. This
method is suited for the analysis of forces and moments to determine the wind loading
on the main structure. Method A is a safe method to determine the wind loading on
the main structure, but is not suited to determine the local loads.
Method B: extreme value analysis of pressure coefficients
Method B requires per wind condition more time series with a length T. Each time
series has the same length and the same sample frequency. Method B uses extreme
value analysis of the measurement results applied together with the peak dynamic
pressure from the wind loading codes.
Method C: extreme-value analysis of wind tunnel data and wind climate statistics
Method C applies an extreme value analysis of the measured extremes. This analysis
is combined with the wind climate statistics. A target probability of the load effect is
used as the basis for the determination of the wind loads.
Other methods, more or less similar to the procedures described here, are used
throughout the world. The ASCE guideline gives an overview of alternatives
available.
Modelling the building and surroundings
A wind tunnel model consists of the building and the direct environment. The scale
model is usually custom made for the wind tunnel research. The model has to be
suited to mount specific instruments, and is of a geometric scale, that meets the
relevant scaling requirements. The model needs to withstand the loads that are
induced by the wind tunnel itself.
A wind tunnel test is carried out on a scale model of the building and surroundings.
The geometric scale g is defined as:

LWT
LFS
(the index WT stands for Wind Tunnel, the index FS stands for Full Scale)

g =

The geometric scale needs to be specified in the test report. When choosing the
geometric scale, the following factors should be accounted for:

Blockage of the wind tunnel section, which is accepted;

Influence of the surrounding obstacles, which are assumed necessary to be modeled;
The amount of detail of building and surroundings that is relevant;
Roughness of the surrounding terrain.

Figure 3: Wind tunnel model on the turn table

The following minimum demands are specified:

Blockage
The blockage ratio has to be given in the test report. Also, the effects of blockage on
the results, and corrections applied. A blockage lower than 5% is a maximum below
which no corrections are needed. In other cases the choices made should be specified
in the test report. A special way to treat blockage is the application of slotted walls at
the test section. This has been applied at BRE in the UK.

Figure 4: Interior of BRE wind tunnel, with slotted walls at the side and ceiling of the
test section.
Surrounding buildings and obstacles
The effect of obstacles in the direct environment needs to be taken into account in
connection with the principle that all loads that are assumed to work on a structure
during its lifetime have to be considered. To determine the wind loads on high rise
buildings and its components, the following situations are considered:
1. A wind tunnel test where the direct surroundings are modelled as known at the
time the research is carried out. Both local loads and the overall loads on the
load bearing structure are determined. If known, future developments should
be considered in this test.
2. A second test, where the surrounding buildings on the turn table are taken
away. Alternatively, the surrounding buildings may be reduced to a lower
height in full scale.

Figure 5: Left: building with surroundings; Right; building on empty turn table
Details
The amount of detail of the wind tunnel model depends on the objective of the wind
tunnel test. Small details are less relevant for the overall loads. The amount of detail
modelled needs to be specified in the test report. Besides the roughness of facades, all
significant differences between full scale shape and wind tunnel model should be
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motivated. This includes features such as parapets, roof overhangs, installations,

rounded corners etcetera.

Roughness of surrounding terrain

The roughness length z0 of the upstream fetch is scaled according to the Jensen
Number Je = h/z0. For the determination of wind loads on buildings and components
(to check the ultimate limit states), application of a lower value for z0 is a
conservative choice. This leads to the following minimum demand:
z 0WT
g
z 0 FS
Usually, in wind tunnel tests, the same roughness length is applied for all wind
directions. The value of the roughness length should be chosen which gives the most
conservative results. Usually, this is the lowest value. When the wind tunnel results
are used to check the serviceability limit state (accelerations of the building), applying
a lower roughness length may lead to an underestimation of the fluctuating
component of the wind loads. This may lead to an underestimation of the vibration
levels. The effect however is usually small.

Figure 6: Downstream view of the wind tunnel in Bochum: spires, roughness

elements, turn table, fan.
Modelling the atmospheric boundary layer.
The wind in the atmospheric boundary layer varies in time and space. It depends on
the terrain roughness, the local wind climate, and on variations in temperature.
Usually, the effects of temperature are assumed negligible, when studying wind loads.
Relevant are the proper simulation of the wind speed with height (the wind profile),
and the turbulent characteristics.
The profile of the mean wind velocity is modeled by applying the Jensen law, or by
applying an appropriate exponent in a power law profile. The Jensen law demands
that the value of the roughness length in the wind tunnel is geometrically scaled from
the full scale value. When the power law is applied, the exponent of the power law
should be similar to the value expected in full scale.

The shape of the profile depends on the features installed in the wind tunnel. Modern
ABL Wind tunnels have a range of profile characteristics available on request.
Minimum demands are specified to the profile of the mean wind with height, and to
the specification of the turbulent components. Besides the geometric scale scaling g
the wind velocity scale v and time scale t are relevant. These are defined as follows:

v =

vWT
v FS

t =

TWT
TFS

The frequency f is the inverse of time T; For the frequency scale this yields:

f =

f WT TFS
1
=
=
f FS TWT t

Wind velocity
The wind velocity which is applied in the wind tunnel, has to fulfill the minimum
demands specified by the Reynolds number and Strouhal number, as given below.
The wind tunnel velocity has to be reported. A wind velocity scaling in the order of 1
to 5 is common for the (West) European wind climate.
Reynolds Number

The Reynolds number is defined as follows:

Re =

vL

Where:
L is the width of the structure;
a is the kinematic viscosity of air, equal to 1,5.10-5 m2/s;
v is the mean wind velocity.
The pressure and force coefficients may depend on Reynolds number. This may be
the case for buildings or building parts with rounded shapes.
The wind tunnel institute should report the corrections applied to account for this
effect, including:
the value of Re in full scale;
the method of scaling this value to the wind tunnel;
the method of taking Re into account.
Usual methods to take Reynolds effects into account are: applying various wind
speeds in the experiment, or applying roughened surfaces of the building.
Strouhal number
8

The Strouhal number is defined as follows:

St =

fL
v

To scale frequency, time, length and wind speed appropriately, the Strouhal number
needs to be equal in full scale and in the wind tunnel:
StWT = StFS, or:

= t =

This scaling demand is relevant for the minimum demands of:

-the length of the samples in the wind tunnel;
-the sample frequency;
-tuning the model applied in the high frequency force balance.
Boundary layer height
The height of the boundary layer in the wind tunnel, at the measurement section,
should be high enough that the measured properties represent the full scale situation
well. Usually this is achieved when the boundary layer height in the wind tunnel is at
least twice the model height.
Reference height
The reference wind velocity at a reference height href has to be specified. The position
of this reference with velocity vref has to be chosen so, that the test results lead to
reliable predictions of the wind loading.
This reference height may be taken equal to the height of the building, when the
building is lower than twice the average height of the surrounding buildings. For
buildings which are at least three times the average height of the surrounding
buildings, the reference height may be chosen between 2/3 and the total building
height. This reference height needs to be specified in the test report.
Turbulence
The turbulent characteristics can be represented by the turbulence intensity, the
spectral density functions and the correlation lengths in the flow. Turbulence intensity
and spectral density functions can be represented in nondimensial form. The
requirements is simply that the model scale and full scale values (when presented in
non-dimensional form) should be the same. The correlation lengths are represented by
so called integral length scales. These are scaled down by the geometrical scale. In
most wind tunnels the above demands are not met simultaneously. For wind loading
studies, a lower level of turbulence than required, usually leads to higher loads, and is
therefore conservative.

The turbulence intensity in the scaled wind climate in the wind tunnel needs to be
smaller than or equal to the value in full scale:
IWT (href) IFS (href)

Measurement
As a general demand for measuring velocities, pressures and moments,
instrumentation should be applied for which the calibration results are known. In the
test reports the measurement techniques applied and the instrumentation used are
specified, along with the accuracy of these instruments.
Measuring the simulated boundary layer
The simulation applied for the atmospheric boundary layer has to be reported. This
documentation has to be available on request. The measurement techniques should be
specified. The test report needs to specify how the relevant demands are fulfilled.

Figure 7: Hot wire anemometry (left), Pitot tube (right)

To determine the properties of the wind in the wind tunnel, pitot-tubes and hot wire
anemometry are appropriate. Hot wire anemometry allows to measure the mean and
fluctuating properties of the wind profile. Also, the spectral density of the wind
fluctuations are determined.
Measurement of pressures
Pressures are measured as pressure differences between the building surface and a
reference pressure. These measurements may be used to determine the local loads on
facades and roofs, or to determine the overall loads on the load bearing structure. The
minimum demands for pressure measurements are given below.

General
The following minimum demands should be fulfilled:

The position of the reference pressure is chosen so, that this pressure is
independent of wind direction or changes made to the model.
The frequency-response characteristics of the pressure measurement
equipment needs to be available on request.

Measurement of local pressures

The following additional demands are relevant for local loads:

A selection of locations is made, at which increased local loads are expected.

Usually, these locations are near extremities of facades and roofs.
Pressure measurements have to be carried out with sufficiently high
frequency, that the extreme loads are determined which correspond to the

10

loaded area Aref, as defined in the building codes. The sample frequency is
determined according to the Strouhal number.

Figure 8: Pressure taps in a wind tunnel model (left); pressure transducer (right)

Figure 9: Pressure transducers inside a model (left), or under the wind tunnel turn
table (right) (picture left from Benoit Parmentier, WTCB, Belgium)
Measurement of pressures for the overall loading
To determine the wind loads on the overall load bearing structure, additional demands
to those given above, are given:

All surfaces are provided with pressure measurement points. The number and
position of the measurement points, along with the attributed area per
measurement location, have to be motivated in the test report. Usually, the
facades and special features on the building are provided with a large number
of pressure taps, depending on the shape and dimensions of the building.

11

When applying the pressure measurements in methods B or C, the pressures

should be measured simultaneously.

The contribution of friction is not taken into account, when using pressure
measurements to determine the overall forces and moments. The friction has to be
taken into account by application of the appropriate rules of the building codes.
When integrating pressures to obtain forces, the individual pressures should be
simultaneous to keep the time information. This yields new time series of forces and
moments.
The resulting force F(,t)i at time t, for wind direction , in direction i (i may be one
of the main axes of the building) is determined from:

F ( , t ) i = p j ( , t ) i A j ,i + W
where Aj,i is the projection of area A contributing to measurement location j in idirection, and W is the total component from friction.
W is determined from a building code.
The resulting moment M(,t)i at time t, for wind direction , around an axis normal to
direction i is determined from:
M ( , t ) i = p j ( , t ) i A j ,i L j + WL
where Lj is the moment arm of force pjAj,i for rotation around axis j, WL is the total
component from friction. WL is determined from the building code.
This procedure enables a detailed analysis of load patterns and dynamic response
(using mode shape analysis) of the structure. More detail and procedures are given in
the literature.
Measurement of forces using a high frequency force balance
Overall forces and moments on the load bearing structure should be determined with
one of the following methods:
1. A static measurement (mean values) using a force balance, to be applied in
method A;
2. A measurement of time series of forces and moments with a high-frequency
force balance, to be applied in method A, B and C;
3. Forces and moments determined from pressures, to be applied in methods A,
B and C

The techniques applied should be described in the test report. Information about the
measurements should be available on request.

12

Figure 10: Example of a 6 component force balance

Forces and moments from static balance measurements
A so called static force balance is able to measure mean values of forces and moments
only. This method gives three values for force; Fx, Fy and Fz, and three values for the
moment Mx, My, Mz. This technique can be applied in method A only.
Fz
Mz
My
Fy
Mx
Fx

When applying a static force balance measurement, the effect of wind friction is
assumed to be implicitly taken into account.
Forces and moments from high frequency force balance measurements
A dynamic balance is applied to measure time series of the win dloading. When
applying a high frequency force balance, the effect of resonance of the structures, are
not taken into account.

The natural frequency of the model applied should be at least 2 times the value of the
highest frequency of interest for the measurement. This frequency should be
determined using the Strouhal number. This should be motivated in the test report.
Time series are analysed according to method Bor method C.
When applying a high frequency force balance measurement, the effect of wind
friction is assumed to be implicitly taken into account.
Measurements at various wind directions
A wind tunnel test to determine design wind loads should be carried out using at least
24 wind directions, distributed evenly over the wind rose.
Sample length, number of samples and sample frequency

13

To determine the statistical properties (mean, maximum, minimum and root-mean

square values), one or more time series should be measured, for every wind direction
and for every measurement channel, per configuration examined. A configuration
may be characterised by the modeling and by the method which is applied to take
Reynolds-number sensitivity into account.
In method A, one time series is needed per wind condition, with a length chosen so,
that a longer time series does not give another mean value.
For methods B and C, per wind condition, more than one time series is needed with a
certain length T. Every time series is measured with the same sample frequency.
The following minimum demands are relevant, related to the extreme value analysis,
which is applied:
The time series are of the same length;
There is no overlap in the time series (time series are independent);
The time series each represent a full scale duration of at least 60 seconds,
which should be determined using the Strouhal number
At least 24 time series are required per wind direction;
The sample frequency is at least twice the value of the frequency that is of
interest for the wind effect studied. This frequency should be determined using
the Strouhal number;
The measurement method applied is described in the test report, together with the
number of time series, sample frequency and sample length.
Analysis methods
There is a wide range of analysis methods available to obtain structural loads from
wind tunnel experiments. Below, three methods are described in some detail.
Method A: Mean values
In this methods, only time-averaged values of forces and moments are available. As
the first step in the analysis the measured forces and moments are made dimensionless
for every main direction of structural axis i (i = x, y of z) and for every wind direction
measured.:

C F ,i ( ) =

C M ,i ( ) =

FWT ,i ( )
1 2
v ref AWT
2
M WT ,i ( )
1 2
v ref LWT AWT
2

The wind velocity vref is the mean wind velocity at reference location in the wind
tunnel. Values for FWT,i() and MWT,i() are determined directly form a force balance,
or determined by integration of pressures p(), taking the loaded area A, and moment
arm L into account.

14

The statistical distribution of the hourly mean wind speed for every direction may be
taken into account by applying the factor Cdir, as defined in EN 1991-1-4. When no
information is available, or it is not allowed to take wind direction effects into
account, Cdir = 1. The reduction factor for the size of the loaded area cs (as defined in
EN 1991-1-4)is equal to 1.
The dynamic amplification factor cd should be determined according to EN 1991-1-4
or similar procedures, The method applied should be motivated in the report.
The representative values for the wind loading for every wind direction for forces in
the axis directions chosen i (i = x, y of z) should be determined from:
Frep ,i ( ) = Avs C F ,i ( )C dir c s c d p w
2

and for the moments around the main axis i (i = x, y of z)

M rep,i ( ) = Avs Lvs C M ,i ( )C dir c s c d p w
2

Where pw is the peak dynamic pressure, corresponding to the reference height in full
scale, e.g. determined according to EN 1991-1-4.
Design values for the wind loads are found by multiplication of the representative
values with the partial safety factor, as given in EN 1990.
Loading combinations
The loading combinations to be applied for the wind loading on the main structure
should be determined using the results per wind direction. These loading
combinations should be chosen so, that they cover all combinations. The choice
should be motivated. Taking all combinations fulfills this demand. However, it might
be more efficient to use less combinations, which cover all other combinations. This
must be decided based on all results determined, and may depend on the structure of
the building.
Method B: extreme-value analysis of the aerodynamic coefficients
In this method, time traces of pressures, forces or moments are available. These time
traces will be used to perform an extreme value analysis of the coefficients associated
with these pressures, forces or moments.

As a first step in the analysis of time series of pressures, forces and moments are
made dimensionless per wind direction :
C p ( , t ) =

C F ,i ( , t ) =

pWT ( , t )
1
v ref 2
2
FWT ,i ( , t )
1
v ref 2 AWT
2

15

C M ,i ( , t ) =

M WT ,i ( , t )
1
v ref 2 AWT LWT
2

The wind velocity vref is the mean wind velocity at reference location in the wind
tunnel. Values for FWT,i(,t) and MWT,i(,t) are determined directly form a force
balance, or determined by integration of pressures p(,t), taking the loaded area A, and
moment arm L into account.
The statistical distribution of the hourly mean wind speed for every direction should
be taken into account by applying the factor Cdir.
For every wind direction, the extreme value distribution of the factors Cp(), CF,i()
and CM,i() respectively should be determined as follows:
1: Per wind direction, the time series is divided in N samples with a full scale time
duration of length T (in seconds).
2: Per sample, the minimum and maximum value for the pressure coefficients are
determined.
3: Per sample, the mode Up and standard deviation ap of the Gumbel distribution is
obtained, by fitting the maximum and minimum values obtained under 2 to the
general expression of the Gumbel distribution. This procedure is as follows:
1. All maxima and minima are ordered according to their height:
a. For the maxima, the highest maximum xm gets number m = N. The
lowest maximum has number m = 1.
b. For the minima, the lowest minimum xm gets number m = N. The
highest minimum has number m = 1.
2. For the maxima and minima, the value is obtained of
ym = -ln(-ln(m/(N+1)));
3. The relation between xm and ym, for all values in the range 0 < ym < 3, is
obtained by the lineair expression xm = Up + 1/ap ym. This fitting procedure
determines the values for Up en ap for both the minimum and the maximum
values
4: Determine the value for Up,3600 for the extreme value distribution of the pressures
within an hour, as follows:
Up,3600 = Up,T + ln (3600/T)/ax
This procedure results for each wind direction in two sets of Up,3600 and ap, one set for
the minimum values and one for the maximum values.
The relation between reference wind speed in the wind tunnel, scaled to full scale, and
the potential wind speed (basic wind velocity in EN 1991-1-4 is defined by the factor
Cv,. This factor may be determined by the provisions given in EN 1991-1-4, applying
the exposure factor ce, or by an alternative method, approved by the local checking
authority.
The reduction factor for the size of the loaded area cs is equal to 1.

16

The dynamic amplification factor cd should be determined according to EN 1991-1-4

or similar procedures, The method applied should be motivated in the report.
Per wind direction, the representative values for the loading are determined from:
Cx() = Ux,3600 + K1/ax, for the maxima and,
Cx() = Ux,3600 - K1/ax, for the minima;
The coefficient K is chosen so, that the resulting effect has a return period equal to the
return period for the basic wind velocity. In literature, values for K equal to 1,4 are
described. Work performed in the Netherlands, however, suggest values in the order
of 2,9.
Per wind direction, the representative value for the wind loading is determined from:
1
2
p ( )VS = C p ( ) vb2 C v2 C dir
2
1
2
Fi ( )VS = AVS C F ,i ( ) vb2Cv2Cdir cs cd
2
1
2
M i ( )VS = AVS LVS C M ,i ( ) vb2 C v2 C dir c s c d
2

Design values for the wind loading

Design values for the wind loads are found by multiplication of the representative
values with the partial safety factor.
Loading combinations
Local pressures
The resulting pressures are directly applicable as representative values for the local
loads. For every measurement location and wind direction, two values are found; one
for the maximum (usually overpressure, having positive sign), and one for the
minimum (usually underpressure, having negative sign). For every location, the
maximum (and minimum) value for all directions should be applied.
For the calculation of the loading on facades and roof products, the effect of internal
pressures should be taken into account.
Forces and Moments
A combination of forces and moments should be chosen, which together covers all
results obtained. This selection should be motivated in the test report. Taking all
measured combinations fulfills this demand. However, it might be more efficient to
use less combinations, which cover all other combinations. This must be decided
based on all results determined, and may depend on the structure of the building.
Method C: extreme-value analysis and wind climate statistics

17

Method C uses a combined analysis of aerodynamic coefficients and wind climate

statistics on the site. Method C may be used for local loads as well for the loads on the
load bearing structure.
As a first step in the analysis of time series of pressures, forces and moments are
made dimensionless per wind direction , similar as done in method B.
The time series of dimensionless parameters, relative to the potential wind are given
as follows:
Cp(,t)pot = Cp(,t)Cv2
CF,i(,t)pot = CF,i(,t)Cv2
CM,i(,t)pot = CM,i(,t)Cv2
The mode Ux,3600 and the dispersion ax from the Gumbel distribution of the extreme
values of the factors Cp()pot, CF,i()pot or CM,i()pot should be determined as described
before, under method B.
The mode Uq and the dispersion aq of the Gumbel distribution of the extreme values
of the hourly mean dynamic pressure under potential circumstances should be
determined. These are usually based on long term observations at meteorological
stations. These are ideally also used when determining the wind climate in national
standards or national annexes to the Eurocode.
The representative value of the wind loading should be determined by applying the
following iterative procedure:
a: Determine the maximum allowed probability of exceedence of the wind loading.
The characteristic value is defined having a return period of 50 years, or having a
probability of exceedence of 0,02 per year.
b: Choose a value for the loading (Pressure, force or moment);
c: Determine per pressure, force or moment, for every wind direction, the probability
of exceedence of the loading, by combining the extreme value distributions of the
aerodynamic coefficients and of the dynamic pressure. The method applied should be
motivated in the test report.
d: The probabilities of exceedence should be summated over all wind directions, for
every pressure, force and moment.
e: If, for a pressure, force and moment, the result of d is larger than the predefined
value, choose a higher value for the loading and repeat steps c and d.
If the result of d is smaller than or equal to the predefined value, the under point b
chosen value for the loading has at least the level of safety which corresponds to the
under a chosen probability.

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This analysis should be carried out for the maxima and for the minima. This
procedure is repeated for all pressures, forces and moments measured.
This procedure gives for all pressures, forces and moments two representative values
for the loading; one for the maximum and one for the minimum. If applicable, these
values should be multiplied by the dynamic amplification factor.
Closing remarks
This lecture has given relevant principles and insights for the use of wind tunnel
experiments to obtain wind loads on structures. Since there is a range of demands,
often conflicting, when setting up an experiment, there are still discussions going on
about the optimal way to perform wind tunnel experiments. When wind tunnel
experiments are commissioned, expert judgement of the modeling and analysis of the
results is still an important issue. It depends strongly on the national regulations how
this is treated in practice. It is recommended to have a second opinion on the final
results before implementation of the results is done. Experience shows that
differences in resulting values of 20 % are not uncommon, although methods applied,
using the same measurements, may all meet the relevant demands.
Transparency of the wind tunnel results is therefore necessary. It should be traceable
where the results come from, when discussions on the results are being made. The
guidelines mentioned may be a valuable guidance for these discussions.
Literature

P.C. van Staalduinen, A.W.C.M. Vrouwenvelder, Achtergronden bij de windbelasting

in NEN 6702, TNO Rapport B90-483, Rijswijk, 1995
Xie, Irwin, Wind load combinations for structural design of tall buildings, Wind
Engineering into the 21st Century, 1999, Balkema, pp. 163-168.
P. van Staalduinen, A. Vrouwenvelder, In Situ bepaling van de vormfactor voor
gebouwen en onderdelen daarvan, TNO Rapport B90-738.
Vrouwenvelder, ACWM, De Wit, MS, Windbelasting volgens TGB en Eurocode,
ontwerpgrondslagen, TNO rapport 2003-CI-R0101.
Wieringa, J. , P.J. Rijkoort, Windklimaat van Nederland, Staatsuitgeverij s
Gravenhage, 1983
ASCE: Wind Tunnel Studies of Buildings and Structures, Manual of practice no. 67,
1999, American Society of Civil Engineers. ISBN 0-7844-0319-8
WTG-Merkblatt ber Windkanalversuche in der Gebudeaerodynamik, WTG, 1995.
University of Western Ontario: Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory: Wind
tunnel testing, a general outline
Cook, N.J. : The Designers Guide to Windloading of Building Structures, Part 2
Static Structures, Butterworths, Boruigh Green Kent, 1990
Simiu and Scanlan: Wind effects on Structures, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New
York, 1996
J.D. Holmes: Wind loading of Structures, 2001, Spyon Press London, New York
Wind tunnel testing for Civil Engineering Applications, NBS, 1982
T. Stathopoulos: Turbulent wind action on low rise Structures, Thesis, Univ. of
Western Ontario,1979
J.A. Peterka: Selection of local peak pressure coefficients for wind tunnel studies of
buildings, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 13, pp. 477-488

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P.Rijkoort, A compound Weibull model for the description of surface wind velocity
distributions rapport WR 83-13, KNMI, 1983
C.Geurts, et.al. Transparency of pressure and force coefficients, Proceedings of
3EACWE, pp. 165-172
EN 1991-1-4: Eurocode 1: Actions on structures Part 1-4: General Actions wind
actions, April 2005.

All pictures in this note have been made by the author, unless otherwise specified.

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